Safety-step for vehicles



(No Model.)

J. T. COLE. SAFETY STEP FOR VBHIGLES.

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JAMES T. COLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY-STEP FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,133, dated March 23, 1897.

A li ation fil d July 15, 1896. $erial No. 599,218. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. COLE, of Chicago, in county of Cook and State of Illinois, have made a new and useful Improvement in Safety-Steps for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a safety-step for vehicles, my object being to provide a step upon the hub of the vehicle-wheel which will permit the mounting of the vehicle with safety.

It is customary with drivers to mount the vehicles by placing one foot on the hub of the wheel. This is the case particularly with the drivers of delivery wagons, who frequently mount the wagon while the same is in motion, and it is a common practice to ride a considerable distance in going from house to house with one foot resting upon the hub of the rotating wheel. This practice is more or less dangerous, as the foot is liable to get caught, thus throwing the driver from the wheel.

In accordance with the present invention a ring which constitutes the step is rotatably mounted upon the hub of the wheel, preferably by means of ball-bearings or other antifriction devices, whereby the ring may rotate readily relative to the hub. The ring is provided with a roughened surface, being hexagonal or octagonal in form or otherwise constructed with a number of flat faces to more readily engage the foot. hen the driver steps upon the ring, the weight thus imposed locks the ring to the foot, and the hub rotates within the ring, while the ring remains stationary relative to the foot. I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the step of my invention. Fi 2 is a view at right angles thereto. Fig. 5 is a sectional view. Fig. iis an end view of a modified form of the ring. Fig. 5 is a top view thereof. Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of a modification.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2,

and 3, peripheral channels a ct are provided in the shell or sleeve a of the hub, and similar grooves b b are provided upon the interior of ring 1), within which grooves rest the antifriction-balls 19 b Flanges b b are provided at the edges of the ring, which extend inward and rest close against the periphery of the hub to prevent the entrance of dust to the ball-bearings. The exterior of the ring is illustrated as octagonal, but it may be in any other form, though preferably with a number of flat faces to more readily grasp the shoe. The faces are roughened to prevent the'slipping of the foot. Screws b b fit in holes through which the balls may be passed to the grooves.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification in which antifriction-rollers O are provided between the ring and the hub in place of the balls.

The ends of the hub are oftentimes enlarged, thus preventing the slipping of the ring over the end of the hub, and for such cases I provide a ring made in separable parts, each part carrying a tongue 01 at one end fitting in a slot in the end of the other part. Pins or rivets d 01 pass through the tongues, locking the parts together.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a safetystep for vehicles, the combination with the hub of the wheel, of a ring constituting the step revolubly mounted upon said hub, whereby the ring remains at rest when the foot is placed thereon, substantially as described.

2. In a safety-step for vehicles, the coinbination with the hub of the wheel, of a ring constituting the step and provided with inwardly-extending flanges at the edges closelyin said ring and channels in the hub, and,

screws engaging holes in said ring situated in line with said channels to permit the insertion of the balls, substantially as described. [0 In witness whereof I have subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. COLE. \Vitnesses:

JAMES WALLACE, W. CLYDE JoNEs. 

